Dangerous Neo-liberal Think Tanks

Trump, Harper, Poilierve

Dear readers, I would rather not keep bothering you with politics, but some issues are significant. I would like to get this posted then Substack search engine can find it, and when I get it on my web page, then Google can find it. This post is a reply to a column in Saturday’s Vancouver Sun and they probably will not print it because it shows how they are the media outlet for the Fraser Institute.

re: “Keep Calm and Stand on Guard,” Stephen Harper, Vancouver Sun, Feb 22, p. NP1

Today’s music selection is again Bach’s Chaconne from BWV 1004, played by Irvy Gitlis (RIP). Why do I keep coming back to this Chaconne? It embodies every human emotion in history, more important in these days as we stare into the void of human failure.

In reply to the Sun column by Harper: This article is a fine example of producing exactly what the reader wants to read, by an expert at this task, basking in an aura of adulthood, masking his real intentions. Mr. Harper asks for “urgent national renewal” to “become a proud and serious country again” and remarks about America’s “understandable hostility to our current government.” Where have we heard that refrain “this country is broken and I alone can fix it?” People should be aware that Trump, Harper, and his attack-dog in his first administration (Pierre Poilievre), all drink from the same thin tanks, such as the Fraser Institute and The Heritage Foundation, all intimately related. Michael Walker’s Fraser Institute produces the Economic Freedom of the World index, which has shown Hong Kong as world leader in economic freedom for years, “… the lack of political institutions has been an important ingredient in Hong Kong’s past economic success.” And what political operative is currently embarking on Project 2025, written by The Heritage Foundation, to disband every governmental institution in America? This is the ultimate goal of the neo-liberal think tanks - economic freedom Trumps political freedom, while genuine conservatives would instead value democracy as a basic freedom. The upcoming threat to Canada must be tackled head on, by the Liberals and NDP agreeing to not split the “Left” vote, which would allow the neo-liberal think tanks to control Canada by either Trump or Poilievre. As well, just as governments require lobbyists to be registered, it is high time that newspapers such as Postmedia’s editions of The Vancouver Sun, Vancouver Province and National Post, list their think-tank-compromised employees so that the public can see the extent of their bias. They can’t pretend to control media input into the public mind while they hide this bias. These think tanks use these publications as “retail” outlets of their political propaganda, gradually changing public discourse to fit the frame of conversation that they have studiously created.

References: “Harperism” by Donald Gutstein

What do the neo-liberals want?

• A weakened labour movement--and preferably the disappearance of unions--will contribute to Canada's economic prosperity

• Cutting back government scientific research and data collection will improve public policy-making

• Eliminating First Nations reserves by converting them to private property will improve conditions of life for aboriginal peoples

• Inequality of incomes and wealth is a good thing--and Canada needs more of it.

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